Bottle-sealing machine.



PATENTBD JUNE 2a, 1908.

A. L. WEISSENTHANNER. BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

D Y vAIPLICATION :ILE MA 10 1905 n HEE S B B L 1n: NORRIS PETERS 00.,WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908. A. L. WEISSENTHANNER. BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1905. 1 sfiEETsfsfiEgT 2.

27' l' "n' 2% i V f; 6%. 4/ 4 WIlllmm; 1 Q l 24- n munltiil ll mnnll 'm"1 {w 34 I I L1 35 33 l 45- 1 l if I M j v 4,; 6/ v A a? wi/bmeooco(Mum/Moe firm 00 gg am No. 891,511. r PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908. A. L.WEISSENTHANNER. BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1905.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

No. 891,511. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908. A. L. WEISSENTHANNER.

BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

1 APPLICA'ITION/ FILED MAY 10, 1905.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

' 1 INVENTOR B)" ATTOHNE Z No. 891,511. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

A. L. WEISSBNTHANNER.

BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

AIPLIGATION FILED MAY 10, 190 5.

11 SHEETS-SHBET 8.

INVENTOR BY ATTORNE5 g WITNESSES: m Z? $5,

No. 891,511. PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

A. L. WEISSENTHANNER.- BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FIL ED MAY 10, 1905.

11 SHEBTE-BHEET 8.

PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908. A. L. WEISSENTHANNER. BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10 1905.

QWXW Mg m co.,- WASHINGTON, o. c.

PATENTED- JUNE 23, 1908.

A. L. WEISSENTHANNERL BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 10, 1905.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 10.

wi'ma/ww I 8mm rn: NORRIS PETERS ca. wAsHlNcroN. n. c.

PATENTED JUNE 23, 1908.

A. L. WEISSENTHANNER. BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE. I APPLICATION FILED MAY10, 190B.

11 SHEETS-SHEET 11.

wi/bvmooaa ALFRED L. WEISSENTI-IANNER, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOTTLE-SEALING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 23, 1908.

Application filed May 10, 1905. Serial No. 259,716.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ALFRED L. WEISSEN- THANNER, a citizen of the Republicof France, and a resident of New York city, State of New York, haveinvented a certain new and useful Improvement in Bottle- SealingMachines, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to a machine for capping bottles or likereceptacles having an annular shoulder or bead about the head, theobject of the invention being to construct a machine which will reshapethe cap to conform to the contour of the rim of the bottle, and bend theflange of the cap into locking contact with the shoulder of the bottlehead to eifect a practically permanent seal.

To effect the reshaping of the cap I employ a chuck comprising laterallyyielding spring jaws into which the bottle head is forced. In theparticular embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings theyielding chuck is supported by the head of the ma chine frame inalinement with a reciprocating table, upon which the bottle issupported, the upward movement of the table forcing the bottle head intothe chuck in such manner as to apply a' uniform and evenly distributedpressure upon the corner of the cap for the purpose of reshaping the capto conform to the rim of the bottle thus providing fully for theordinary variations in the form and size of caps and bottles.

The bending of the flange of the cap takes place in the operation of themachine immediately after the reshaping above referred to. The mechanismfor accomplishing this second operation upon the cap comprises a bendingor sealing tool by which the cap flange is bent into locking engagementwith a shoulder on the bottle head by a gradually increasing andprogressively applied inward and downward pressure upon said flange.This result is effected by a relative rolling movement between thebottle and bending tool while in an eccentric relation one to the other,the parts being so related that the point of application of the pressurebegins above the edge of the flange and continues with a shearingmovement inwardly and downwardly to the point of maximum pressure at ornear the lower edge of the flange. During this movement the bottle maybe held stationary between the supporting table and the chuck and thetool moved from its normal concentric position to an eccentric positionwith the working edge of the tool bearing against the cap flange. Or thebottle may be moved from its normal concentric position to a positioneccentric to the bending tool and then moved about the working edge ofthe bending tool so that successive points of the cap flange will beacted upon to eifect the desired bending into locking engagement withthe bottle shoulder. Or both bottle and tool may be moved during theflangebending operation, the essential feature of this part of myinvention consisting inproviding means for imparting a relative movementbetween the bottle and the bending tool while maintained in an eccentricposition one to the other.

In the following specification I have used the word bottle forconvenience of description as meaning any form of receptacle having ashoulder or bead about its head, the application of the invention notbeing confined specifically to the capping of bottles.

The invention will be understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine embodyingone form of the invention certain of the parts being shown in section;Fig. 2 is a front elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is an en larged sideelevation of the head of the machine of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is an enlargedfront elevation of the head of the machine partly in section; Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional view of the lower end of the chuck and of theflange bending tool; Fig. 6 is an inverted plan view of the chuck andbending tool; Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 7-7 ofFig. 4; Fig. 8 is a sectional view on the plane of the line 88 of Fig. 4Fig. 9

is a detail view of the means for forcing the sealing or bending toolagainst the cap flange; Fig. 10 is a detail view of a modified form ofbottle guide fixed to the sealing tool; Fig. 11 an inverted plan view ofFig. 10; Fig. 12 a detail view of the means for locking and unlockingthe foot treadle; Figs. 13, 14', 15 and 16 are enlarged vertical detailviews of the sealing tool intended to illustrate the positions of theseveral parts during the successive steps of the flange bendingoperation; Fig. 17 an inverted plan view of the sealing tool showing theneck of the bottle in section; Figs. 18, 19, 20 and 21 are verticalsectional views on the plane of the lines 1-1, 22, 33, and 44,respectively of Fig. 17 looking in the direction of the arrows; Figs.

22, 23, 24 and 25 are enlarged views of a por tion of the bottle cap toillustrate the pro gressive inward bending of the flange; Figs. 26, 27,28 and 29 are enlarged detail views of the sealing tool showing therelative positions of the tool and bottle neck, and also theadaptability of the bending tool to various sizes of bottle shoulders;Fig. 30 is a plan view of the sealing tool and cap when the bottle andsaid tool are eccentric one to the other; Fig. 31 an inward sideelevation partly in section of a modified form of the invention; Fig. 32a vertical section on the plane of the line 32-32 of Fig. 31 looking inthe direction of the arrow; Fig. 33 a horizontal section on the plane ofthe line 3333 of Fig. 31; Fig. 34 a detail view showing the sealing tooland its cooperating shoe of Fig. 31; Fig. 35 a side elevation partly insection of a further modification; Fig. 36 an enlarged vertical sectionof the upper part of the machine of Fig. 35; Fig. 37 an inverted planview of Fig. 36 Fig. 38 a side elevation partly in section of anothermodification; Fig. 39 an enlarged vertical section of the upper part ofthe machine of Fig. 38; Fig. 40 an inverted plan view of Fig. 39; Fig.41 a side elevation partly in section of a modification in which thebending tool is held in a normal position and the bottle moved intocontact therewith; Fig. 42 an enlarged section of the head of themachine of Fig. 41; Fig. 43 a vertical section on the plane of the line4343 of Fig. 42 and Fig. 44 an inverted plan view of Fig. 42.

Similar reference numerals indicate similar parts in the several views.

Referring to the drawings and particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 12 and 17, thenumeral 1 designates the frame of the machine in the form of a castingwhich has integral therewith at its lower part a bearing for a shaft 2.On said shaft is mounted a loose pulley 3 adapted to receive a beltdriven from a power shaft, and also a fast pulley 4. The pulley 3 isbrought into operative engagement with the shaft 2 by a suitable clutchcontrolled by a treadle 5 pivoted on the side of the frame,

..the upper arm 5 of said treadle engaging the collar 6 of said clutch.W'hen the treadle is depressed the clutch, in the particularconstruction used by me, is drawn forward for the purpose stated, andthe treadle locked by engagement therewith of an arm 15 fulcrumed on theend of shaft 2. A belt runs from pulley 4 around pulleys 39 and 32 ashereafter described, rotation being imparted to the pulley 4 as will bereadily understood when pulley 3 is brought into operative engagementwith the shaft 2. A pinion 7 keyed on the shaft 2 meshes with a spurgear 8 mounted on a shaft 9 which is supported in a bearing 10 integralwith the frame 1. On the side of the gear 8 is a crank pin 11 to theupper end of said pitman being connected to a hollow plunger 13, thelatter being free to reciprocate vertically in a longitudinal bearing inan extension 14 of the frame. Upon each complete rotation of the gearwheel 8 a cam projection 16 on one end of pitman 12 engages a lug 15 onthe end of arm 15 to thereby release the treadle 6 which is then raisedto its normal position by a spring 17 thereby freeing the pulley 3 fromthe clutch. A brake shoe 18 fixed to a lever 19 is adapted to engage abrake wheel 20 fixed to the front end of shaft 2, the movement of saidshoe being controlled by the treadle through the lever 19 so as to bebrought into frictional engagement with the wheel 20 when the treadle isreleased.

Supported in the hollow plunger 13 is a spindle 21 which carries at itsupper end a table 22 upon which the bottle to be cap ed is placed. Thetable 22 is provided wit 1 a gage 23 to secure the proper centering ofthe bottle. The spindle 21 is provided with a collar 21 adjustablethereon by a set screw. An extension of the collar 21 carries a stop 22which rests upon the upper side of the extension 14. When the plunger 13is raised it strikes against the under side of collar 21 and therebyraises the bottle for the purpose hereafter described. VVhen the plunger13 descends the spindle 21 is carried with it until the stop 22 comes torest upon the extension 14. If preferred the spindle 21 may bescrew-threaded into the plunger 13.

The frame 1 is formed with an integral head 24 bored longitudinally inalinement with the plunger 13. Screw threaded into lugs on the side ofsaid head are vertical rods 25 to which is secured at their upper ends across head 26 having a central opening through which passes the reducedupper end 27 of a spindle 28. A flange 29 on the latter is adapted torest upon the upper end of the head 24 and to thus limit the downwardmovement of said spindle. Surrounding the end 27 and extending betweenthe head 26 and flange 29 is a spring 30 which in practice exerts apressure of about 900 to 1,000 pounds on the spindle 28. Threaded intothe lower end of spindle 28 is a sleeve 42 formed preferably of steeland split longitudinally for a portion of its length to provide aplurality of laterally yielding spring jaws,

,(see Figs. 5 and 6), the inner lower walls 42 of said jaws beingconcaved to form a suitable working face, as shown in the drawings, toadapt said sleeve, which virtually constitutes a chuck and will be soreferred to, to engage the corner of the cap in the manner indicated forexample in Fi 27, when the bottle is forced upward into the chuck.Threaded into the chuck is a core 43 the lower end of which is concavedso that in the capping operation the top of the cap will be 6-5 which isconnected one end of a pitman 12, l slightly convexed as shown in Fi 23,this convexity assisting in the ready removal of the cap when the bottleis to be opened. The core 43 is however not essential and may be disensed with.

It is wel known that variations occur in the height of bottles and inthe form, and diameter of the head, and in the width and thickness ofthe metal caps, and because of these variations 1 split the chuck asabove stated and make the internal diameter of the working face intowhich the rim of the bottle is forced,substantially equal to thediameter of the smallest bottle head likely to be met with in practicefor the particular machine used. 1 am thus enabled, notwithstandingvariations in the bottle head and in the cap, to uniformly compress thecap about the rim and to conform the cap to the rim by an evenlydistributed pressure. The function of the chuck is that of the femalemember of a die and under the pressure applied to the bottle acting as apunch, the cap will be restamped or reshaped to conform exactly to tothe rim of the bottle.

The purpose of the mechanism so far described is to reshape the cap andto conform it to the rim of the bottle and to firmly hold the bottle. Iwill now describe the mechanism by which the flange of the cap isforcibly bent into close enveloping or looking contact with the shoulderof the bottle head. Screw threaded about the side of the lower end ofthe spindle 28 is a ring 31, and resting upon said ring and having aloose bearing on its side and also about the spindle 28 is a pulley 32,said pulley having an upwardly extended annular flange 33 in engagementwith said spindle. Supported upon extensions of the rods 25 is a ring 34to which is secured a depending annular flange 35 bearing against theside of the flange 33. The ring 34 and flange 35 may be made in onepiece if desired. The lower end of the flange 35 is formed with abeveled or cam face 36 for the purpose hereafter described. Mounted inbearings in a bracket 37 formed integral with the frame 1 is a shaft 38,the axis of which is at right angles to that of pulley 32. The shaft 38carries pulleys 39, a belt (not shown) passing around the pulley 4 andaround both pulleys 39 and pulley 32 to impart a rotary motion to pulley32 and the parts carried thereby as presently to be described. In orderto prevent rotation of spindle 28, it is provided with a longitudinalslot 40 with which engages a stud or pin 41 extending through the head24.

Supported upon the'chuck 42 is a collar 44 7 (see particularly Figs. 131 6 and Figs. 2629) capable of vertical adjustment by means of setscrews 44. The collar 44 is tapped to receive screw threaded bolts 45,preferably four in number, said bolts projecting beyond the under sideof said collar and supporting spiral springs 46, the pitch of thethreads of said bolts and of the convolutions of the springs being equalso that the springs are firmly secured upon the bolts. Into the lowerends of said springs are threaded bolts 47 which are tapped into a ring48, said ring constituting a flange bending or sealin tool adapted to bepressed against the cap ange as hereafter described. The inner wall 48of the ring 48 is inclined or curved inwardly from the bottom toward thetop, to provide a working edge 49 more or less sharp with which thebending of the flange is eflected. To the under side of the ring 48 aresecured suitable pins 50 to serve as guides to secure the propercentering of the bottle. These guide pins may if desired constitute theheads of the bolts 47. Instead of guide pins 50 I may employ asemi-circular guide 63 as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, secured to the underside of the bending tool 48.

Rotatably supported in a bearing in the web 51 of pulley 32 is a shortvertical shaft 52 having an enlarged head 53 into which is fixed one endof a curved spring arm 54 (see Figs. 4, 7, 8 and 9) which arm at itsfree end carries a shoe 55 norm ally resting against the side of flange33 of pulley 32. The shaft 52 carries at its lower end a collar 56having an extension 57 in which is supported a vertical depending arm58. To the arm 58 is secured a laterally projecting curved spring arm 59which carries at its free end a stud 60 upon which is revolubly mounteda shoe 61, said shoe normally extending in close proximity to the sideof ring 48 and adapted when the spring arm 59 is swung inwardly tocontact with a circumferential bead 62 formed about the ring.

The operation of the mechanism above described, which is designed tosecure a flanged sealing cap to the outside of the bottle head byforcibly bending the flange of a metal cap into locking contact with ashoulder on said head, is as follows :-T he bottle to be capped, aportion of the neck 64 of which is shown in the drawings, isproperlyplaced upon the table 22 with a cap 65 thereon, the cap beingpreferably provided with a sealing disk 66 of cork or other suitablematerial. The cap in practice is placed on the bottle by hand so that itrests upon the rim with its flange 67 surrounding the shoulder or bead68 of the bottle neck. With the parts in their normal positions of restthe bendingor sealing tool 48 is concentric with the bottle head and outof contact therewith, and the shoe 61 is out of contact with, or if incontact exerting no pressure on the tool 48. The height of the table 22is usually adjusted so as to bring the neck of the bottle, when thelatter is placed thereon, into substantially the position shown in Fig.26 with relation to the chuck 42 and the tool 48. With the parts intheir normal positions the treadle 5 is depressed thereby moving theclutch so as to cause ro tation of shaft 2 and the raising of plunger 13through the pitman connection 12. The rapid movement of plunger 13 hasthe effect of forcibly impinging the head of the bottle against thechuck 42, the plane of impact extending over the corner of the cap, theinternal diameter of the chuck and its configuration being such,relatively to a standard size and shape of bottle and cap, as to effecta reshaping of the cap into exact conformity with the rim of the bottle.The sealing disk 66 is compressed over the rim and the metal of the topof the cap forced into a slightly convex form, as seen in Fig. 27. Thecapability of lateral adjustment of the chuck is of importance in thatall variations from a standard shape and size are provided for therebysecuring uniformity of pressure circumferentially around the overlyingcorner of the cap.

WVhen the bottle head is forced into the chuck as above described thespindle 28 is raised against spring 30 tending to compress the latteruntil the table 22 reaches its uppermost position at the end of theupward throw of the pitman 12. When the spindle 28 is thus raised itcarries with it pulley 32, shaft 52, and the parts connected theretocausing shoe 55 to ride over the cam face 36 of flange 35, therebypressing the spring arm 54 outward and imparting a slight rotarymovement to shaft 52 in its bearing in the web 51. This rotation ofshaft 52 swings the arms 58 and 59 inward causing shoe 61 to bearagainst the bead 62 of the bending or sealing tool 48 and moving thelatter laterally into a position eccentric to the bottle and bearing,along the working edge 49, against the flange 67 of the cap. When theclutch is shifted by depressing the treadle as above stated the beltrunning from pulley 4 over pulleys 39 and 32 will efliect the rotationof the latter, such rotary movement causing the shoe 61 to travel aboutthe tool 48 and always maintaining the latter in a position eccentric tothe bottle. The pressure exerted by tool 48 is sufficient to bend theflange 67 into secure locking engagement with shoulder 68 so as topresent a perfectly smooth edge and without any folding over of themetal. The adjustability of the bending tool 48 is an important featureto be noted in this connection in that pro vision is thereby made forall irregularities in the height of bottles, and width and height of theshoulders within the range usually met with in practice. The springs 46are so made as to offer considerable resistance to the pressure exertedby shoe 61 yet they are suffi ciently elastic to permit of vertical,lateral and torsional movements of the tool 48 to accommodate said toolto the irregularities of the bottle and shoulder. lVhen the tool 48 isbeing moved the springs 46 will be distorted somewhat in the mannershown in Figs. 13 to 16, and Figs. 26 to 29, the amount of suchdistortion depending upon the height and width of the shoulder, the edge49 in all cases being brought to bear against the under side of theshoulder 68 so as to force the flange of the cap into close lockingcontact with said shoulder.

The flange 33 of pulley 32 is guided in its vertical movements betweenspindle 28 and the flange 35, the latter extending far enough downwardlyto maintain the spring arm 54 pressed outwardly long enough to permitthe travel of shoe 61 at least once around the tool 48. The flange 35may be made of such length as desired and the size of the pulleys soregulated as to cause the shoe 61 to travel around the tool 48 as manytimes as desired although it should make at least one completerevolution. It will also be noted that the vertical distance traveled byspring arm 54 before the shoe 55 meets the cam face 36 is such that thefull force of the impact between the top of the bottle and the chuck ismade effective to reshape the cap before the shoe 61 is moved intocontact to displace tool 48.

The precise operations involved in the bending of the cap flange 67 intolocking engagement with the shoulder 68 will be clearly understood byreference to Figs. 13 to 25 inclusive. Fig. 13 shows the position of thebottle immediately before being forced into engagement with chuck 42.The movement of the shoe 61 against the bending tool 48 is effectedimmediately after the bottle head engages the chuck, the parts being sorelated that a point on the working edge 49 will be brought to bearagainst the cap flange opposite the shoulder 67 at some point betweenthe center and lower lines of said shoulder, and by reason of thepressure exerted by the shoe 61, and the elasticity of the springs 46the said working edge will slide downwardly over the cap flange so as tobend the edge thereof at that point under the shoulder 68. Starting fromthat position the flange will be bent by a gradually progressive inwardand downward movement of successive points on the edge 49 as the shoe 61travels about the tool 48. WVhen the working edge 49 meets the flange 67in the manner above stated, the pressure exerted by said edge is not adirect lateral thrust at right angles to the vertical axis of the bottlebut a shearing movement exerted upon successive points of the flange, sothat the metal after bending presents a continuous smooth surfacewithout folds. The pressure exerted by the shoe 61 on the bending tooltends to tilt the latter slightly out of a horizontal plane, the lowestpoint of the working edge being that directly inside of the point ofcontact of said shoe against the periphery of the tool 48, and thehighest point diametrically opposite. The

point of maximum pressure of the cap flange is therefore along thelowest line of the shoulder 68, or at or near the edge of the capflange.

The gradual application of the pressure of the working edge 49 againstthe cap flange is best illustrated in Figs. 17 to 25 inclusive, it beingremembered that Fig. 17 is an inverted plan view and that Figs. 18, 19,20 and 21 are sections on the planes of the lines 11, 22, 33, and 44respectively of Fig. 17. Starting from the position 11 it will be seenfrom Fig. 18 that the bending tool is out of contact with the cap flangeon that plane, the point a of the working edge 49 lying in that planebeing at about the position shown in Fig. 22 above the edge of theflange. When the shoe 61 is moved through onethird of the quadrant thepoint a from which we started will be moved inwardly and downwardly inthe lane of the line 22, so that the tool 48 will exert a very slightpressure on the cap flange bending it as indicated in Figs. 19 and 23,the point of application being at about the position shown in the latterfigure above the edge of the flange. A further movement of like extentof the shoe 61 will bring the point a still further inward and downwardin the plane of the line 3-3 so that the bending tool will exert agreater pressure on the cap flange as indicated in Figs. 20 and 24. Thefinal movement in the quadrant will bring the point a to the plane ofthe line 44. This is its lowest position, at or very close to the edgeof the cap flange and the position of maximum pressure upon the flangeas indicated in Figs. 21 and 25. It will thus be seen that when thebending tool 48 is in working position its plane is inclined at a slightangle to a horizontal plane, and that it has imparted to it a nutatingmovement about the bottle neck. There is no rotation of the tool 48about its axis except what slight movement there may be due to thetorsional pressure exerted by the shoe 61, and it will be observed byreason of this torsional force the springs 46 will be slightly distendedas indicated in Figs. 14 to 16, and 17 to 29, thereby lessening thevertical distance between the tool 48 and its supporting ring 44affording an upward pull on said tool so as to maintain an upwardpressure against the cap flange on the under side of the shoulder 68.The bending of the cap flange is therefore due to the resultant forceexerted upon the bending tool 48 by the circumferential travel of theshoe 61 about said tool which tends to force a given point on itsworking edge 49 inwardly and downwardly on an inclined path, and thetension of the springs 46 exerted in an upward direction. These forcesact upon the outer side of the cap flange opposite the under side ofshoulder 68 the resultant pressure being gradually applied along a givenline until it reaches its maximum. This pressure progressively appliedaround the cap flange effects the bending without folding or breaking ofthe metal. The capability of yielding vertically or laterally, throughthe supporting springs 46, enables the bending tool 48 to readily adjustitself to variations in the height of bottles, width of heads, andheight and thickness of the shoulders. Perfect sealing resultsnotwithstanding these commonly met variations. For example, assumingthat the bottle head shown in Fig. 27 is of standard size and form anyvariation therefrom as shown in Fig. 28 will still permit the bendingtool to assume its pro er working position. Furthermore this yie dingcapability removes all danger of breaking of the bottle and unduestraining of the parts of the machine immediately connected with thebending tool. This feature of utility is also contributed to by thespring arms 54 and 59.

In Figs. 31 to 34 several modifications of the machine previouslydescribed are illustrated. In these figures a shaft 69 to which is fixeda driving pulley 70 is supported in bearings in the frame 1. A bevelgear 71 on the end of said shaft meshes with a similar gear 72 thelatter having a hub 73 surrounding a hollow spindle 74 and having abearing in an extension 75 of the frame 1. The mechanism in the lowerpart of the frame may be similar to that described in connection withFigs. 1 to 4, the spindle 74 being supported in vertical alinement withthe table 22 and the lower end thereof constituting a chuck in allrespects similar to that previously described. The upper end of spin-.

dle 74 passes through an opening in an ex tension 76 of the frame 1 andhas secured thereto a collar 77 adapted to rest upon said extension, theconstruction permitting a vertical movement of the spindle when thebottle is forced into the chuck as will be readily understood. Verticalrods 78 pass through the extension 76 and are bolted to a cross head 79.Between said collar 77 and the cross head 79, and surrounding a plunger90 hereafter described, is a spring 81 having the same function as thespring 30 of Figs. 1 to 4.

The spindle 74 is formed with or has secured thereto a ring 74 fromwhich is suspended a bending tool 48 constructed as heretofore-describedexcept that it is formed with an outer bevel face 82 above thecylindrical body portion thereof. For the purpose of moving the bendingtool into a position eccentric to the bottle, I provide a projecting arm83 which is fixed to the hub 73. Fixed in an opening in the outer end ofsaid arm is a short vertical shaft 84, and extending laterally therefromand having a slight rotary movement on said shaft is an arm 85 whicharm, as shown in Fig. 34, is forked at its outer end and supports aspindle in which is revolubly mounted a shoe 86. Said shoe has a bevelface 86, the inclination of which corresponds to that of the face 82 ofthe bending tool 48. That part of the arm which encircles the shaft 84is cut out at 85 forming a radial recess through which projects a pin 87threaded into an opening in the shaft 84. Secured to the shaft 84 is acollar 88 to which is fixed one end of a spring 89 surrounding saidshaft and having its other end fixed to the arm 84. Said spring is somounted as to tend to throw the arm 85 inward and to maintain the bevelface 86 of the shoe 86 normally in contact with the cor responding face82 of the bending tool 48, as indicated in Figs. 33 and 34. When thespindle 74 is raised by the impact of the bot tle against the chuck 42,the bending tool 48 will be carried with it the bevel face 82 ridingover the face 86 of the shoe 86 until the cy lindrical face of thebending tool bears against the cylindrical face of the shoe 86, theeffect being to move the bending tool laterally to a position eccentricto the bottle. The rotation of the gear 72 and its attached arm 83 willcause the shoe 86 to travel around the bending tool in contact therewithto effect the bending of the cap flange into locking engagement with theshoulder on the bottle neck in a manner similar to that heretofore fullydescribed. The tension of the spring 89 is such as to cause the shoe 86to exert sufficient pressure against the bending tool to effect thedesired bending of the flan e, any irregularities in the shoulder orbottle neck being compensated for by the movement of the arm 85permitted by the opening 85, it being noted that the inner movement ofthe arm 85 is limited by the pin 87 bearing against the side wall ofsaid opening. The tension of the spring 89 may be regulated by adjustngthe angular position of the collar 88 by means of a set screw 88.

It is sometimes necessary or desirable to provide the present machinewith means to force the bottle from the chuck after the sealingoperation. For this purpose I have shown a plunger 90 extendinglongitudinally through the hollow spindle 74 the lower end projectingfar enough into the face of the chuck as to rest upon the cap so as tobe raised when the bottle is forced into the chuck. The plunger 90 issupported upon the cross head 79 by a collar 91 fixed to said plunger.The plunger 90 has therefore a vertical movement independent of the vertical movement of the spindle 74, the parts being so related that thebottle contacts with the plunger to raise it before impinging againstthe working face of the chuck. Pivoted on a stud in an opening in theside of the spindle 74 is a latch, the depending arm of which is adaptedto take under a projection 93 on the plunger when the spindle is raisedafter the upward movement of the plunger. The spring 81 acts to lowerthe spindle 74 to its normal position as soon as the upward pressure onthe bottle is released by the return movement of the pitman 12, andshould the bottle remain suspended in the clutch the downward movementof said spindle will release the plunger by causing the upper projectingar 94 of the latch to contact with a stop pin 95 supportedin a bracket76 projecting from the extension 76 thereby throwing the other arm 92 ofthe latch out of engagement with the projection 93. The plunger thusbeing free will fall and striking on top of the cap will force thebottle from the chuck. If necessary a weight 96 may be attached toincrease that of the plunger.

In Figs. 35 to 37 I have illustrated another embodiment of the inventionin which the chuck is held rigidly against vertical movement. In thisform the mechanism located in the lower part of the frame is the same asthat described with reference to Figs. 1 to 4 exce t that inasmuch asthe chuck is held rigid y against vertical movement the spring cushionto take the force of the impact of the bottle against the chuck consistsof a spring 97 surrounding the spindle 21 and held between the to oflunger 13 and a collar 98 on said spinc e. Tn this case the spindle 21is screw threaded into a bushing in the upper part of the plunger 13 asshown in Fig. 35.

The head 24 forming an extension of the frame 1 is bored longitudinallyand fixedly secured therein by a screw 99 or other suitable means, is as indle 100 the lower end of which is split anc constitutes a chuck 100similar to and having the same function as that heretofore described.The flange bending tool 48 is supported upon the spindle 100 also in themanner heretofore described, the particular form shown being similar tothat of Figs. 31 to 34. The shoe 86 is supported upon an arm 85 alsosimilar to that of said figures. The relative arrangement of the severalparts is, however, different owing to the immovability of the spindle100 in a vertical direction. The shaft 84 upon which the shoe 86 iscarried through arm 85, instead of being secured to a vertical shaft 84,as in Fig. 32, is screw threaded into the web of a pulley 101, saidpulley having a hub 102 which surrounds and bears upon the spindle 100and is capable of vertical movement thereon. The upper part of the frame1 is provided with oppositely disposed openings shown in Fig. 36, andthrough said openings a lever 103 is passed said lever being pivoted ona stud fixed to the frame. Both ends of said lever are made U-shaped theforks being slotted as indicated in Figs. 35 and 36, the slots of theright-hand end being engaged by pins or studs 104 secured to a verticalrod 105 which is guided vertically by brackets 106 extending from theframe 1. Said rod near its lower end carries a shoe 1 07 which restsupon a cam 108 secured to the outer PIOJGCt-lllg end of the shaft 9. Theslots of the forks of the left-hand end of lever 103 are engaged by pins109 projecting from a collar 110 set into and having a loose bearing onthe hub 102 of pulley 101. The cam 108 is so adjusted that it willoperate to raise rod 105 immediately after the pitman 12 has reached thelimit of its upward throw so as to lower pulley 10]. immediately afterthe bottle is forced into the chuck. Such downward movement of pulley101 will lower the shoe 86 so that it will bear against the bending tool48 to move it laterally to a position eccentric to the bottle and withits working edge in contact with the cap flange. Abelt (not shown)passes from pulley 4 around pulleys 39 and around pulley 101 so as toeffect the rotation of the latter to cause the travel of shoe 86 aroundand in contact with the bending tool 48 to effect the bending of theflange in precisely the same manner as heretofore described.

The upper end of rod 105 carries a shoe 111 which, when said rod israised by the cam 108, rides over the face of the depending arm 112 of alever 112 fulcrumed 011 a stud on the top of the frame 1. The other endof said lever is forked as indicated in Fig. 36 and receives a stud uponwhich is supported a plunger 113 which passes through the longitudinalbore of spindle 100, said plunger ex tending down into the face of chuck42. The function of the plunger 113 is to release the bottle from thechuck in the manner described in connection with Fig. 32. When thebottle is forced into the chuck the plunger 113 is raised therebyrocking lever 112 on its fulcrum and moving the depending arm 112thereof inward and causing it to ride downwardly against shoe 111. Atthe same time the said shoe has a movement of its own upward by reasonof the raising of the rod 105. The lever 112 is, therefore, held in araised position by the pressure of the shoe 111 against the side of arm112 and is released when the rod 105 is lowered. hen so released aspring 114 secured to said lever and to the frame will draw said leverdownward causing the plunger 113 to strike against the cap to releasethe bottle from the chuck. A s ring 115 surrounds the rod 105 and is helbetween a collar 116 and one of the brackets 106 as shown in Fig. 35,the function of said spring being to lower rod 105 when the high pointof cam 108 wipes from under the shoe 107. The use of a plunger to forcethe bottle from the chuck is not absolutely necessary or essential itbeing shown merely as a feature which may be employed because inpractice the flexibility of the spring jaws of the chuck will usually besufiicient to eject the bottle as soon as the longitudinal pressureagainst the bottle is released. One essential function of the chuckheretofore described is to hold the cap flange in close envelopingcontact with the rim of the bottle so that during the operation ofbending the flange the metal will be prevented from buckling. Thisresults from the concavity of the working face of the chuck which coversthe corner of the cap, extending not only a slight distance over thecrown but alongside the upper part of the flange.

The machine of Figs. 38, 39 and 40 is in its main feature similar tothat of Figs. 35 to 37 the differences being as follows :-Adjust ablysecured to the spindle 100 above the bending tool 48 is a collar 117between which and a collar 118 slidably keyed to said spindle is aspring 119. The pulley 101 is supported upon collar 118 the web of saidpulley having an opening in which is secured a depending arm 120 saidarm having a vertically projecting stud from the lower end thereof onwhich is revolubly mounted a shoe 121. The shoe 121 is in the form of afrustum of a cone the face of which is adapted, when pulley 101 islowered, to bear against the side of the bending tool to move itlaterally into its described eccentric position. To effect the downwardmovement of pulley 101 lever 103 engages the pins 109 which in thisinstance are secured to a collar 122 having a loose bearing in a ring123, which ring has a loose bearing on spindle 100. The ring 123 isformed with a downwardly projecting annular flange 124 which is ofgreater diameter than the body of the ring and extends between twoannular flanges 125 projecting upwardly from the web of pulley 101, theinner of said flanges 125 having a loose bearing on spindle 100. Theflange 124 rests upon a s ring 126 which surrounds the inner of theanges 125 and bears against the web of pulley 101. When lever 103 isrocked on its pivot by the upward movement of rod 105 the outer endthereof is depressed thereby lowering pulley 101 by the depression offlange 124 against spring 126. This movement will cause shoe 121 to movethe bending tool laterally, the bending of the cap flange being effectedby the travel of said shoe in circumferential contact with said tool inthe manner before described. Pulley 101 which carries the shoe 121 isrotated by a belt (not shown) as in the case of the machine of Figs.3537 The function of spring 119 is to raise pulley 101 to its normalposition shown in Fig. 39 after the completion of the sealing operation.

In all of the forms of the invention heretofore described the bendingtool 48 is moved from its normal position to a position eccentric to thebottle, and the cap flange bent into locking engagement with the bottleby moving said tool in such manner that successive points on its workingedge will exert a gradually increasing pressure on said flange, thebottle remaining stationary. It is equally within my invention toreverse these conditions, that is, to hold the bending tool stationaryand to move the bottle into a position eccentricto said tool and thenroll it against the working edge 49. One embodiment of this equivalentmode of operation is illustrated in Figs. 41 to 44. In these figures themachine in the lower part of the frame is or may be the same asdescribed with refer ence to preceding machines except that a ball andsocket connection 140 is made between the spindle 21 and table 22 asindicated in Fig. 41 to permit a movement of the table corresponding tothe movement of the neck of the bottle so that the bottle may bearsquarely upon the table.

The bending tool 48 in the present case is freely supported upon springarms 127 secured to a bracket 128 extending from the frame 1 in suchmanner that it will retain its normal position except for such lateralvertical or torsional movements as may be caused by contact of thebottle neck therewith during the sealing operation. Having a bearing onan annular flange 129 of the bracket 128 is bevel gear 130 which mesheswith a similar gear 131 fixed to a shaft having bearings in the frame 1and rotated by a pulley 132 driven from shaft 2. The hub of gear 130 iseccentrically bored as seen by reference to Fig. 42, the opening beingalso eccentric to the axis of the bending tool. In said opening isseated a chuck 132 which is also eccentric to the axis of the bendingtool and is'always so maintained. The chuck 132 is formed with aconcaved working face adapted to receive the impact of the bottle aboutthe corner of the cap, the bottle being forced into the chuck upon theupward throw of the pitman 12. The chuck and bending tool being alwaysin an eccentric relation the flange bending operation begins immediatelythe bottle is forced into the chuck, the desired movement of the bottlebeing effected as follows: The chuck 132 is provided with a transverseopening 133 which is enlarged at its lower end to receive the head of apin 134, which pin projects above the upper end of the chuck and extendsthrough an opening 135 in a depending head 136 forming part of orsecured to a bracket 137 attached to the frame 1. The opening 135extends at right angles to the opening 133, and to the upper end of pin134 is secured a block 138 adapted to slide in an opening 139 in thehead 136. A suitable anti-friction bearing is provided between the head136 and chuck 132 as indicated in Fig. 42.

The operation of the last described machine is as follows. The upwardmovement of the bottle brings the cap flange at one point intoengagement with the working edge 49 of the bending tool 48 as shown inFigs. 42 and 44. Beginning at that point the cap flange will be bentinto locking engagement with the shoulder on the bottle head by agradual progressively applied pressure in the same manner as describedin connection with the preceding machines. That is to say, as the gear130 is rotated no rotary movement will be imparted to the chuck 132, butthe latter, which holds the bottle firmly about the corner of the cap,has a movement in the path of an eccentric by reason of the engagementof pin 134 with the walls of the openings 133 and 135, the result beingthat the bottle neck will be pressed against the working edge 49 of thebending tool so as to bring successive points on the circumference ofthe cap flange into engagement with said edge to effect the bending ofthe flange beneath the shoulder on the bottle neck. From the manner ofsuspending the bending tool on the spring arms 127 the said tool iscapable of vertical, lateral and torsional movements so as toaccommodate itself to various conditions and irregularities in theheight and width of shoulders, perfect sealing resulting notwithstandingthe variations heretofore referred to.

In describing the movement of the bending tool during the sealingoperation conditions are assumed which are usually met with in practice.The machines are so adjusted as to meet ordinary commercial conditionswhich present variations in the forms and sizes of bottles andshoulders. This requires an adjustment within certain limits which willcause the edge 49 of the bending tool, when the latter is brought intoworking position, to contact with the cap flange somewhat above thelower line of the shoulder and above the edge of the flange, the saidedge being then moved down to about the lower line of the flange andsuccessive points brought into position to effect the bending of theflange as described. As it is not necessary to have more metal in theflange than sufficient to be bent against the under side of the shoulderit may happen sometimes that the bending tool in its initial movementwill strike the flange at or very near its edge. In such case thebending tool instead of having a nutating movement may move in the pathof an eccentric in a substantially horizontal plane.

it will be seen from the above description that the chuck may be heldrigidly against vertical movement, or provided with means which willpermit it to yield vertically when the bottle is forced into it. Alsothe bending tool may be supported on the chuck so as to have no verticalmovement except that permitted by the springs 46. In other words, toefl'ect the lateral movement of the bending tool into a positioneccentric to the bottle, the said tool may be moved so as to meet theshoe which effects such lateral movement, or said shoe may be movedrelatively to the bending tool.

By cap flange as used in the present specification is meant that part ofthe cap which extends below the crown whether in a continuouscircumferential line or not, thereby including projecting members ortongues or other parts of the cap adapted to be bent into lockingengagement with the bottle head.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a bottlesealing machine the combination of a bottle support, a chuck havinglaterally yielding jaws in alinement with said support, means to forcethe bottle into engagement with said chuck, and a non-rotary flangebending tool.

2. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a bottle support, alaterally yielding chuck in alinement with said support, means to forcethe bottle into engagement with said chuck, a non-rotary flange bendingtool, and means to actuate said tool after the bottle has been forcedinto the chuck.

3. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottle head,and a universal support for said tool whereby it may be moved in anydirection to accommodate itself to irregularities and variations in thesize and shape of bottles and caps.

4. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottle head,freely suspended spring supports for said tool, and means for bringingsaid tool and the bottle to be capped into engagement with each otherfor the purpose described.

5. In a bottle sealing machine the combi nation of a tool adapted tobend the flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottlehead, and means to impart a relative movement of nutation between. saidtool and bottle to effect the bending of the flange.

6. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with abottle head,means for maintaining said tool and bottle in an eccentric relation oneto the other during the sealing operation, and means to impart arelative movement of nutation between said tool and bottle to effect thebending of the flange.

7. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottle head,means to move said tool and bottle into engagement with each other, andmeans to effect the bending of the flange by an inwardly and downwardlyapplied pressure along successive lines of said flange.

8. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottle head,freely suspended spring sup orts for said tool, and means to move saitool into contact with the cap flange and eccentric to the bottle headand While so maintained to produce a relative movement between said tooland bottle to effect the desired bending of the cap flange.

9. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a movably supportedtool adapted to bend the flange of a sealing cap into locking engagementwith the bottle head, a shoe and means to actuate the same to bearagainst said tool to move the latter to a position eccentric to thebottle head, and means to revolve said shoe about said tool while inbearing contact therewith for the purpose described.

10. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a chuck into whichthe head of the bottle is adapted to be forced, a tool adapted to bendthe flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottle head,a ring supported on said chuck, and yielding suspension means secured tosaid ring and freely supporting said tool below the chuck.

11. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a chuck into whichthe bottle is adapted to be forced, a ring supported on said chuck,vertically depending springs secured to said ring, a second ringsupported by said springs below the chuck, said latter ring constitutinga tool adapted to bend the flange of a sealing cap into lockingengagement with a bottle head, and means to move said tool intooperative engagement with the cap flange.

12. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a tool adapted tobend the flange of a sealing cap into locking engagement with a bottlehead, said tool consisting of a ring having an inner working edge, meansto move said tool into operative engagement with the cap flange, a chuckhaving laterally yielding jaws adapted to reshape the cap. to conform tothe rim of the bottle, and means to force the bottle into said chuck.

13. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a non-rotativespindle, a chuck secured to said spindle, a tool ada ted to bend theflange of a sealing cap into coking engagement with a bottle head, saidtool being movably suspended below said chuck and consisting of a ringhaving an inner indenting edge, a shoe and means to move the same intobearing contact with said tool for the purpose described.

14:. In a bottle sealing machine the combination of a movably supportedtool adapted to bend the flange of a sealing cap into locking engagementwith a bottle head, a shoe, means to produce a relative movement betweensaid tool and shoe so as to position the bending tool eccentric to thebottle, and means to cause said shoe to travel circumferentially aboutsaid tool with a bearing contact.

15. In a bottle sealing machine the com-

